Fire

In this case a candle but I suspect our neighbours may frown upon a tar filled barrel.

In the North East of Scotland (and doubtless other places) there is an ancient tradition of setting loads of stuff alight on the last day of the year. The burning of the clavie in Burghead (on the 11th January-Hogmanay before the calendar changed) is the most famous but along the coast the fishermen used to carry flaming torches about their boats to bring them good luck for the rest of the year. This was much to the annoyance of the Kirk which snittily recorded that "the heathenish idolatrous custom and practise of burning torches" was carried out on the last day of December.

When householders restit their fire at the close of the day (covered it with ash to keep it in for the next day) the ashes were inspected on New Years day and if a mark in the shape of a human foot with the toes pointed towards to door was found, it foretold of a death in the family in the year to come.